Alexander Gustafsson Q&A: 'I’ll be ready for the UFC title fight when it comes'

The Telegraph's MMA and Boxing reporter Gareth A Davies sat down for an
exclusive interview with up and coming Swedish UFC light heavyweight
Alexander Gustafsson ahead of the organisations first appearance in his home
country.

Gareth A Davis: Did you think you would actually be progressing this quickly and people would be already talking about you as a title contender ? It is being talked about as possibly inside a year, even though your coach Eric Del Fierro wants you to develop patiently.

Alexander Gustafsson: I’m working hard and I think I’m where I should be at by now but I’m in no hurry at all, I’m taking one fight at a time, I want to win my fights. With the title shot I don’t know yet but if I get the chance someday, I will be more than ready.

GD: If they come to you with Jon Jones fighting Rashad Evans, then we assume Dan Henderson, and he beats both, he’s pretty much cleaned out the main contenders in the division. If in that time, say, you win on Saturday night, you face a few of the guys who’ve maybe held the belts before, like a former champion, then you’re in the frame. Mentally you’ve always looked ready for it.

AG: Yeah, you know I’m a fighter and I just want to fight better guys all the time, tougher guys so I just want to beat better guys and my goal is to be number one one day so if I get a chance to fight a better guy I’ll do it, anytime, anywhere.

GD: People are talking about you so much as you handled Vlad Matyushenko so easily, you handled Matt Hamill so easily, you put Phil Davis’s career off track and also of course you’re in a very structured and formidable camp, and you’re training around the Ultimate Fighter Live at the moment. Has that been interesting?

AG: Yeah, yeah, yeah I’m based in Stockholm and I train at Nexus Fighter Centre, it’s my club and my head coach Andreas Michael but for two weeks now I went to Vegas to train with Team Alliance with coach Eric Del Fierro, Phil Davis and top level guys. I had top level sparring so I’m more than ready.

GD: There’s a lot of energy around the Ultimate Fighter Live and all these guys as they’re trying to win an event…Was that all a help ?

AG: Yeah absolutely and to be a part of such a team and such good guys I’m very confident and I know I’ve done my homework for this fight.

GD: You did one set of homework and then another set with the change of opponent, a lot of the fans are happy as a lot of people are saying it’s a more intriguing fight now. Have you had to change much from Little Nog to Thiago Silva?

AG: It wasn’t a really big difference, the basics are already done, the hard work is done, it’s just details, we changed a few things and that’s it

GD: What are the dangers Thiago Silva brings?

AG: He’s very hard and tough guy, very aggressive so I have to stay sharp. Really sharp.

GD: Finally on Sweden itself, I was speaking to George Sallfeldt [President of Swedish MMA] and obviously MMA is really big in Sweden, it’s grown enormously in the last half a decade, fans are very knowledgeable about the sport and we were wondering if you get a victory in Sweden will you do a Jose Aldo and go running out of the Octagon and throw yourself into the crowd. Is it possible?

AG: That’s a good question. I don’t know, let’s see what happens…

GD: Will you feel emotional about fighting here? I imagine all your family and relations and ancestors will be watching you here.

AG: Yeah of course, it’s a lot of emotions, a lot of different thoughts, it’s a big thing, the biggest I’ve done in my life so far but still it’s just a fight for me, I go in there and have fun basically. I’m doing something I love to do.

GD: In the build-up to UFC Sweden have you noticed much more attention from Swedish TV and newspapers and media. Do you enjoy all that? You’re a very sanguine, laid back kind of guy, have you dealt with a lot of that media pressure easily?

AG: It comes with it, this is my work and all the media thing is just a big bonus for me. I’m just enjoying being in the spotlight right now so it’s not a big deal for me.